Day Date taking off band and band question

[dante305]

Hello,

How can you tell wether a 18K Day Date band is original Rolex or not? What do you look for when you look for an original one vs a fake one? is there any way to spot them easily?

As far as taking the band off a Day Date (18238) I do not have a Spring Bar Tool right now but would like to take off the band to take note of the serial #, is it possible to do it at home without scratching the case? I have plenty of time and I'm down to being as cautious as possible of course, my friend owns a Day Date and he told me he took his off with two "needles" using them like a "Spring Bar Tool" to remove the springs...

Thanks a lot!

[DJ Hawaii]

I would not use 50 cent needles to take off a $4000 + bracelet and risk scratching it. Either get a spring bar tool or take to a watchmaker to remove.

[dante305]

Originally Posted by DJ Hawaii

I would not use 50 cent needles to take off a $4000 + bracelet and risk scratching it. Either get a spring bar tool or take to a watchmaker to remove.

indeed, true advice! I'm taking it to Rolex soon tho. Thanks :)

[Tools]

The Day Date bracelet runs about 10,000 bucks if you need a new one, so you do find the less expensive Italian aftermarket bracelets on older examples. The aftermarket bracelets are about 1/3 the price and may be difficult to spot if the original clasp is used..

Fakes are generally easier to spot because very few are solid gold and the halmarks are frequently poor quality..

[dante305]

Originally Posted by Tools

The Day Date bracelet runs about 10,000 bucks if you need a new one, so you do find the less expensive Italian aftermarket bracelets on older examples. The aftermarket bracelets are about 1/3 the price and may be difficult to spot if the original clasp is used..

Fakes are generally easier to spot because very few are solid gold and the halmarks are frequently poor quality..

I purchased a 18238 and I'm inspecting its band (see pictures below)

http://gallery.atpic.com/46566

The only thing I noticed is the last link of the band is kind of attached to the clasp, there is a thread already on the forum... thank you a lot for the quick responses!

[dante305]

I just havent had the time to visit Rolex, christmas is just around the corner and I've been quite busy at the office however I know you guys know a LOT about this matter, and even if pictures are not the same as taking the watch to Rolex or to an AD I know they might help at times.

I see the band of my 18238 acts kind of weird, I noticed for example the LAST link of the band where the Rolex Crown is located moves along with the clasp its like the end of the clasp is "stuck/glued" to the back of the link... i opened another thread about this already.